Well, this will probably be my last blog for the next week or so.  Tomorrow I drive down to Phoenix.  I’ll spend the night with my brother and then fly out to New Orleans on Saturday.

Ok…can I tell you how excited I am?  I know I’m going there for a work conference but one of the cool things is that the conference has set us up at the aquarium on Monday night (and I love Aquariums!!!).  In addition, it’s New Orleans, for goodness sake!!!

I’ve been there but I was so young that I don’t remember it.  I’m really looking forward to going and seeing some new things.  I might even skip a few seminars just so I can take some sight-seeing time.  I know that’s bad, considering that my company is sending me there…but…gosh!  I don’t know when I’ll ever get back there.

This is one of the coolest perks of my job.  Once a year we get to go to a conference that is held in a different place each year.  Last year was boring for me…Anaheim.  I’ve been to Anaheim more times than I can count and even lived in Huntington Beach for a few months so I know that area well.  I’ve been to Disneyland at least 20 times and knew, once we got in, with the long lines, that I wouldn’t last long.   Next year, we’re in Philadelphia.  I’ve never been there, either, and am looking forward to it.  I’ve heard that 2005 is in Hawaii.  While I’ve been there, I wouldn’t mind going back, of course.  My boss said that she wants to go that year, too.  Heh.  Of course she does!  Who wouldn’t???

I’ve loved the conversation that you have contributed here this week.  All of your contributions have been fantastic and insightful.  And yeah, xoodom, I do understand.  We need more community so we don’t have these things happening.  We wouldn’t be strangers then, would we?

Peace to all of you.  Thanks for making me smile, think, and even well up with tears each and every day.  I’m lucky I wandered in here and found most of you to read.